USA > Ohio > Union County > History of Union County, Ohio; its people, industries and institutions > Part 40
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Kiburne and Amos Beach operated quite an extensive ashery in the vil- lage of Jerome for many years. Peter Beaver was also engaged in that business at New California, but these industries are all abandoned, although in the early days the business was quite profitable.
The manufacture of barrels was engaged in quite extensively in this township by a number of citizens. The McCampbell brothers, John, Joseph, Andrew and Charles, were all coopers by trade and engaged in that business on their farms during the winter season. Robert Curry, John Oliver, James and William Woodburn were also engaged in that line. They made sugar, flour and pork barrels, many of which were disposed of in the neighborhood, but the bulk of them was hauled to Columbus. They had great high racks on heavy wagons which were used to transport the barrels to market, and mer- chandise of all kinds was brought back in return. The loads were immense, and while we have no definite knowledge as to the number of flour barrels that could be loaded in one of these wagons, it seems that fifty would be a safe guess.
The tradesmen of all kinds were in the country, and there was scarcely a farmer's family that did not have some member who could do mechanical work, either as shoemaker, harnessmaker or a woodworker. Nelson Cone was, perhaps, the best mechanic along Sugar run. He made boots and shoes, harness and saddles. He was also a woodworker and made sleds, ox-yokes, plow-stocks and all kinds of farm implements.
Among the shoemakers were Perry Buck, the Fleck boys, David Beard and some of the Germans, a Mr. Myers and others. George Reuhlen, who arrived in Jerome township direct from Germany, along in the fifties, was
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an expert wood workman and erected one of the first cider mills and presses in the township. He also operated a saw mill for a number of years.
Nearly every farmer had a good set of tools and made and repaired all kinds of farm implements himself instead of running to town and to the shop of a carpenter or blacksmith every time it was necessary to have a nail driven or a board sawed. They were especially expert in the manufacture of ax handles out of tough hickory timber.
The fathers always took a great deal of pains to instruct their boys in the use and care of tools. There was one kind of work along this line that did not appeal to the farmer boy particularly, and that was filing a cross-cut saw. He was well aware that getting the old saw out in company with a rat- tail file meant hard work as soon as the saw was sharpened. If there was one kind of labor harder than another on a farm, it was for a boy to tackle a saw log about four feet in diameter with a cross-cut saw. for the other fel- low was sure to "lay down" on the saw. Did you, my old farmer-boy friend-now three score and ten-ever know it to be otherwise? I think not.
SOCIAL GATHERINGS AND SINGING SCHOOLS.
Before the days of the Civil War the young people residing along Darby creek and Sugar run were noted far and near for musical talent. both vocal and instrumental. Every winter singing schools and literary societies fur- nished the principal entertainments for all, old and young.
These entertainments were held in the school houses of the neighborhood, and on special occasions, such as concerts or literary exhibitions at the close of the schools, they were held in the old Seceders' church, either at New California or in one of the churches at Jerome.
Until about the year 1850, the old square or "buckwheat" notes were used in the music book. The first singing book that used the round notes was the Carmina Sacra, and the first teacher was a Mr. Maynard. Then came a Mr. Dixon, Pinney Case of Jerome, Mr. Moulton of Boston, William M. Robinson of Marysville. Sireno B. Phipps of Columbus. Samuel Robin- son of Darby township and Nelson Cone. In later years James Curry, a Presbyterian minister, now a resident of Newark, California, taught a few terms.
After the regular terms of the singing school closed with a day concert in the spring. the teachers would insist that the young people keep up the practice during the spring and summer months. These practices were held in the evening and Dan Cone, James Curry and David G. Robinson were
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usually the leaders, standing up in front, giving the key with a tuning fork and beating tinie.
There was great rivalry between the choruses of Jerome and Darby townships, and there were many concerts and musical contests. In the sum- mer of 1860 the singers of Jerome, Darby and Milford Center held an all- day concert in the grove on the farm of Michael Sager at Unionville. A number of the music teachers were present in the interests of their favorites and considerable feeling was displayed by the different factions, each chorus claiming the laurels.
There were few pianos and organs, and violins, flutes and violincellos were the principal musical instruments. Some of the young people were quite talented, and all of the Cone family of seven boys were violinists.
No public dances were held, but when the young people would meet in the evenings, even at the house of a strict Methodist or Presbyterian, they would indulge in a little social dance, a cotillion, swinging eight, Virginia reel, or French four, with a jig by a few of the boys to the tune of Mony Musk.
Then there was the apple cutting which closed at nine o'clock sharp, after all the tubs, jars and crocks had been filled with apples, pared, cored and quartered ready to be strung on cotton cords two or three yards in length and hung to the joist above the fireplace to dry. There was no canned fruit and the apples and peaches were dried around the open fireplace or on kilns. The kilns were usually made in the orchard by digging a trench a foot deep, a yard wide and two or three yards long. This trench was arched over by brick and at one end a chimney several feet in height was erected. The brick over the trench was given a coat of thick clay mortar, smoothed down care- fully, and was soon dried ready for use by building a fire in the kiln. News- papers or cloth were spread over the kiln to keep the fruit clean when it was put in and in this manner apples and peaches were dried for winter use.
When the apples were all pared and cut at these evening gatherings, the floors, without carpets, were swept, refreshments were served and the even- ing's festivities commenced. The old plays were Snap Up. March to Quebec and many others. Some of the older persons will remember the old songs as the boys and girls would march around the room by couples.
Then there were wood choppings, when the young men of the neighbor- hood would gather at some farmer's home, especially when the father or some of the boys were sick, but frequently for a visit, chop wood and haul it to the home in long lengths, working all day and getting out a sufficient
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amount of wood to last many weeks. On the same day the girls would as- semble at the house and have a quilting party. In the evening a great supper would be spread and all would be merry with songs until the "wee small hours."
Corn huskings were also evenings of amusement and helpfulness among the farmers. There was always some strife among the boys to see who could find the largest number of red ears, as every red ear found entitled him to kiss his best girl. It would even be intimated that a girl would quietly pass a red ear to the right boy, or if a boy had any doubt about finding one, he would place an ear in a convenient pocket before he started to the husking bee.
The debating society furnished entertainment and amusement for many winter evenings at the school houses. These debates were participated in by many of the old settlers, who were well versed in current events and were good historians as well. In fact it may well be doubted if the average citizen of today is as well versed in the early history of the republic as the pioneers of fifty years ago, and these debates were usually quite interesting.
The best class of farmers usually took two or three weekly newspapers, one of which was the church paper, and it is recalled that the favorite one among the Presbyterians was The Watchman of the I'alley, published in Cin- cinnati. The Dollar Newspaper, published in Philadelphia, was also a favor- ite among the farmers, as, in addition to all the current news, it had continued stories by one of the good writers. which continued for months. There were no dailies outside of the cities and the arrival of the weeklies in the Satur- day's mail was hailed with great interest.
The writings of some of the standard prose writers and poets were in many households, including Shakespeare, Byron, Burns, Shelley, Scott, Young. Josephus, Rollin and many standard histories. The Bible and hymn book were always on the stand in the living room and they were both used every day.
JEROME.
Jerome, sometimes known as Beachtown, Pleasant Hill or Frankfort, was platted in 1846 by William Irwin, county surveyor, for Henry Beach, and the Beach family was the only one residing there at the time. At an early day it was a lively little trading place, but, like all other towns off the rail- road, it has never come to be a place of any considerable importance. Good citizenship has always been the boast of its few people. The farming coun- try around this pretty village is excellent and the business transacted by the
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few dealers there has generally been on the square deal order, and hence suc- cessful at all times. Amos and Kilburn Beach were the first to engage in merchandise, and William Case was the pioneer tavern keeper. Other deal- ers may now be recalled as H. B. Seely, Lattimer & Hamilton, George Dixon and Oliver Asbury. Coming down later, the dealers were Daniel Landecker and the H. B. Seely Company. This last-named firm descended from the old pioneer store of Herrick B. Seely, who for many years was a thrifty mer- chant and the postmaster of the village. He stood high among wholesalers and jobbers. At his death the business fell into the hands of his sons, one of whom still carries on the business.
The population of Jerome is about seventy-five. The following have served as postmasters in this village since the establishment of the postoffice, in April, 1848: Joel A. Converse, appointed April 17, 1848; Isaac N. Wells, April 1, 1851 ; William Andrews, August 8, 1853; Lyman Andrews, June 3, 1854: William H. Brinkerhoff, February 22, 1856; Horace Beach, June 10, 1856; George Leisure, December 23, 1857; Hurd Lewis, July 16, 1866; S. H. Brake, February 17, 1868; William O. Harra, May 18, 1869; John Latham, November 27, 1871; J. C. Collier, July 20, 1874; George Leisure, May 26, 1875; Joseph Brobeck, January 14, 1878; Jennie Wells, November 5, 1883; H. B. Seely, August 21, 1885; A. L. Seely, April 11, 1892; George H. Dickson, April 21, 1897; O. T. Asbury, March 17, 1899; George H. Dickson, February 16, 1903; Pearl E. Hyland, November 7, 1903; office discontinued December 15, 1905. It is now furnished with mail from the rural free de- livery out of Plain City.
The history of churches and schools will appear in the special chapters of this volume on such topics.
NEW CALIFORNIA.
This little hamlet was platted in 1853, and the first general store was opened by S. B. Woodburn and Dr. Albert Chapman. Soon after the plat was executed, Samuel Ressler, of Marysville, erected a two-story frame building on the southwest corner of the public square and there transacted a good business for a number of years. He carried a good grocery stock in the same building. New California soon became the center for live stock busi- ness in the southern portion of Union county. Scales were put in and hun- dreds of hogs were driven there for marketing in the swine shipping seasons. These hogs were usually driven to Worthington or Pleasant Valley, from which points they were shipped to New York. Some droves would exceed
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four hundred fat hogs. Neighboring boys were paid fifty cents a day to help drive these hogs to market. As there were no bridges, it was a great task to land the hogs on the right side of half-frozen streams of water. It was the work of hours, even on the solid frozen ice, to force a large drove over the ice.
The first physician to practice medicine in the village was Doctor Culver, who was succeeded in turn by Milo Lawrence, Thomas J. Hayes, James Cut- ler, B. F. McGlade, J. S. Howland, Doctor Merriman and Doctor Vigor.
The pioneer "Village Blacksmith" was John Walley, in whose shop, be- side the glowing forge, used to congregate the school boys at noon hour. He used to interest the boys by telling wonderfully big stories, not all strictly true. He claimed to have invented a magnifying glass through which he could look into the earth three miles. With this glass he said he located several gold mines in the neighborhood, as well as rich silver deposits, but these were never developed for lack of funds. He never allowed anyone to see this magnifying glass, as he claimed he did upon one occasion let a man look through it and it magnified so strong that it killed the man.
Other blacksmiths were the Gowan boys, Wilson Martin and John Hick- man, all possessing queer traits of character. Especially some of these char- acters should find a paragraph in the annals of Jerome township. While Martin, the blacksmith, was shoeing a farmer's horse, a boy came running into the shop and declared that there was a large flock of wild turkeys at a quarry not far distant. Martin dropped the half-shod horse's foot, seized his rifle, powder horn and bullet pouch. He fairly flew to the designated spot. After two hours he returned with three very large turkeys swung over his shoulder. All the villagers assembled to see the big game. Martin related in his own peculiar and elastic manner how he had driven these wild turkeys, swifter on foot than the fastest deer hound in the country, to cover and how he had brought them down from the highest oak trees with his good and unerring rifle. "Black Bess." It was really a thrilling story and well told. But it was not long before a neighboring farmer appeared at the shop looking for the man who had been killing his tame turkeys. Martin was much crest- fallen when he learned the truth and the farmer, a very liberal man, presented Martin with the turkeys and bade him "sin no more." But the end had not come, for many years afterwards he had to listen to the story in a teasing manner from the village boys, who laughed him to scorn for not knowing a tame from a wild turkey.
The Ressler tavern was a favorite hostelry in its day, as there was a
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great deal of travel on the old State road, running from Pleasant Valley to Delaware, as well as on the road from Columbus to Marysville. Many were the yarns spun in the dingy old bar-room as travelers, drovers and others gathered around the open-front wood fire Franklin stove, smoking the pipes and "stogies" furnished by the genial landlord. The first mails came once a week on horseback from Dublin. The mail was usually carried in large sad- dle-bags and in these were the weekly papers and, of course, all were eager to hear the latest news-but a week old.
The postmasters (who also ran the one store in the village) serving at New California, according to a recent list forwarded from Washington, D. C., especially for this history, have been as follows: Samuel B. Wood- burn, January 7, 1850; Perry Buck, July 8, 1856: John T. Liggett. Jr., June 19, 1857; Thomas Robinson, Jr., September 9. 1858; William Thompson, June 23, 1862; John P. McDowell, November, 1872; Nancy A. Bain, May 20, 1873; R. C. Hager, November 1, 1875: H. M. Dort, June 26, 1879; Phineas Bell. December 7, 1885; J. W. Kuhus, December 1, 1886; G. E. Her- riott, May II, 1891. Office discontinued May 14, 1904.
PLAIN CITY.
The greater part of this sprightly town is within Madison county. It has one thousand five hundred population, about four hundred of whom re- side over the line in Union county. The flouring mill of U. D. Beard, on the west bank of Darby creek, is in Jerome township. It was erected by Doctor Ballinger and Richard Woodruff in 1873, and has always been a prosperous plant. The Methodist Episcopal church building is also in this county. The society was organized at Pleasant Valley in 1812. (See Church history chapter. )
At a very early day there was a tannery operated by William McCune on his farm. Today this site is included in the beautiful Pastime Park, con- sisting of twenty-seven acres, with a fine race track. The grove makes it an ideal summer resort and here the popular Chautauqua meetings are held an- nually. Before the Civil War many of the Fourth of July celebrations were held at this beautiful spot. Long tables were erected and "the fat of the land" was placed thereon, free for all.
The postoffice was originally called Darby Creek, but changed to Plain City on September 6, 1871. The postmasters here have been : (Darby Creek) James Ewing, July 1, 1811; D. K. Bigelow, March 22, 1837; Isaac Bige- low, August 17, 1843; P. E. Guitner, February 21, 1850; Israel E. Bigelow,
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March 12, 1857; Richard Woodruff. June 25, 1862; A. N. Converse. March 29, 1870; (Plain City) A. N. Converse, September 6, 1871; Minerva Bradley, March 22, 1880; B. M. Irwin, January 3, 1884; 1. E. Bigelow, September 2, 1885; C. A. Horn, May 3, 1889; G. M. Russell, January 10. 1895; Daniel Perry. January 28, 1899; Rolla A. Perry, January 19, 1903; Charles Wilson, February 1, 19II.
ARNOLD.
This is a new village, located on the Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad, at the crossing of the gravel road leading from Plain City to New California. The station and village were located in the fall of 1893 on land belonging to Mrs. George Arnold, for whom the town was named. It was first named "New California," after the old village, until a petition for a postoffice was presented to the department, when its name had to be changed, and "Arnold" was wisely chosen. James Arnold, who established the first grocery there and was postmaster, discontinued business when the postoffice was discon- tinued. Fred Smith was commissioned postmaster in 1896, but never per- formed the duties, as he sold his business just as his commission arrived. Carrie Fleck was then appointed to the position and she, with her husband. Perry Fleck, established a general store in the village in the fall of 1896. Mrs. Fleck served as postmistress until the office was discontinued, March I. 1910, by reason of the establishing of a rural free delivery route from Plain City. Mr. and Mrs. Fleck. in 1914. were doing a thriving business and ran several produce wagons into Columbus each week. Other business factors are the grocery store of J. W. Cunningham, an ex-handle factory and two warehouses, both owned by J. R. Herriott. The village has about thirty-five buildings and a population of over one hundred and twenty-five. The chil- dren attend the Central School at New California.
Jerome township occupies the southeastern corner of Union county. It is bounded on the east by Delaware and Franklin counties. on the south by Franklin and Madison; Darby township bounds it on the west and Mill Creek on the north.
Big Darby creek, its principal stream, crosses the southwest corner. Sugar run flows southward through the central portion, and farther east several small streams take their origin and flow into Delaware and Franklin counties. The surface is level or slightly rolling. The valley of Big Darby is narrow, and the soil of it is a rich, black loam. Back of this a ridge of land rises. having a width of perhaps one-half mile, the soil of which is
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somewhat gravelly. A fertile black soil is found beyond this, covering much of the southern portion of the township. Farther to the north, clay predominates. In early times the entire surface was densely forested and much timber that would now possess great value, including black walnut and cherry, was felled and burned in large heaps, to make way for crops of corn and grass. Hickory, oak, walnut, elm, beech and swamp ash were the prevalent types of timber.
The first election was held May 10, 1821, for the selection of a justice of the peace. Clark Provin received the entire fifteen votes cast. James Ewing, who was then sheriff of the county, and Frederick Sager and Simeon Hager were the judges of this election. John Taylor and John McCune were the clerks.
It was only a short time after the first settlers came that the woods were filled with wild hogs. Most of the early settlers brought a few hogs with them. and as the mast of the forest was amply sufficient for their sus- tenance, they were allowed to run at large. Each settler branded his hogs with a private ear-mark, and could thus identify his own property. Many of these swine were lost; they multiplied rapidly and a breed of wild, vicious hogs was the result. They would attack dogs and sometimes men, when the branches of a tree would be the only retreat. For many years it was cus- tomary for the settlers to allow their hogs to run at large during the fall and when winter approached it was often extremely difficult to get them back within inclosures. Good hog drivers were in great demand and received high wages. The unruly animals were usually driven in large droves by men on horseback, assisted by dogs, into an inclosed field, where they were assorted and their ownership determined by the ear-marks. Sometimes wide circuits, miles in extent, must be made before they could be secured. Those belonging to widows were always brought in free by the neighbors.
Wolves were plenty at first, but the bounty of four dollars a scalp paid by the county made them much sought after by hunters and the forests were cleared of them before other large game disappeared.
James Ewing was one of the best and foremost citizens of Union county during the first thirty years of its existence. His old homestead in Jerome township was in survey 12.125, where he lived to the time of his death. He was elected and served as the first sheriff of Union county. In religious be- lief he was a Presbyterian and a firm member and for many years a ruling elder of Lower Liberty church. In politics he was an unflinching Whig. In 1810 Mr. Ewing purchased a stock of goods at Chillicothe, brought them to his farm and opened a country store, thereby becoming the first merchant
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in what is now Union county. Through his efforts a postoffice was secured and he was appointed the first postmaster. He operated the store for about ten years and then withdrew for a time from the mercantile business. In 1833 he erected a large frame store room adjoining his dwelling and filled it with an extensive stock of goods. He continued in business this latter time only two years. In 1835 his younger son, David. to whom he was deeply attached, met with an untimely death just as he was entering upon a life of brilliant promise and under his sense of loss Mr. Ewing retired permanently from business. He had been the possessor of some means when he came to Ohio and by his stern, honorable business qualities he accumulated consid- erable property. He was one of the first trustees of the Franklin County Bank. He was scrupulously honest in all his dealings and his word passed current for almost any amount. Small currency was very scarce, and in order to meet the demand for this kind of money, and facilitate trade, he issued what was termed in those days "shin plasters," payable on demand. They were considered by the people as good as coin and were never dishon- ored by their maker.
The Taylors were among the foremost pioneers of Big Darby in Jerome township. There were five brothers by this name. Richard, Daniel, Isaac, William and John, all of whom settled on the creek in close proximity to each other. They came in 1800 or 1802. They were Virginians who had settled in Kentucky, but, not liking the country there, emigrated to Ohio.
Another of the earliest settlers on Big Darby in Jerome was Andrew Noteman. No record has been kept of the date of his settlement and the time cannot be definitely determined. The date of his deed is 1802, and it was probably about that year or soon after that he arrived. He was born June I, 1773, near Harper's Ferry, Maryland.
The Sagers were also among the earliest settlers and occupied some of the best land in the township. Henry. Frederick and Abraham located in Jerome.
Patrick Conner was the first settler on Sugar run, coming from Penn- sylvania about 180.4-05. He owned and occupied a small farm in the lower part of survey 5.132. He was of Irish descent and a very intelligent man. Joseph McClung came to Sugar run from Pennsylvania very early. He was in the War of 1812. John Kent settled in survey 5.126, on Sugar run. in 1806.
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